Chicago Dog Bite Attorney Services

Dog bites, and other injuries caused by domestic animals in Illinois, are controlled by both ordinary negligence law and by the Illinois Animal Control Act.

The relevant part of the Animal Control Act is as follows:

If a dog or other animal, without provocation, attacks, attempts to attack, or injures any person who is peaceably conducting himself or herself in any place where he or she may lawfully be, the owner of such dog or other animal is liable in civil damages to such person for the full amount of the injury proximately caused thereby. (p510 ILCS 5/16:Sec. 16.p)

Is a Chicago Dog Owner or Dog Walker Liable in a Lawsuit if the Dog Bites Someone?

Under the Animal Control Act, owners or controllers of domestic animals (walkers too!) are strictly liable (meaning one need not prove negligence) for all damages caused by an unprovoked animal. If you own a dog, you ARE liable if your dog bites someone. Make sure you have homeowner's insurance to cover you for this eventuality. If not, you will have to pay for the damages out of pocket.

Further, ordinary negligence law covers this area too, so, while there negligence must be proven, it does not take much to prove a dog owner was negligent in failing to control his dog that bit a small child. Damages can be large, especially if there is significant scarring or painful rabies shots involved.

If you own a dog, make sure your homeowner's insurance covers you, fence in your yard, always leash your dog, and have it vaccinated against all things your veterinarian recommends.

Should I Call an Attorney if I or My Child Was Bitten by a Dog?

If you are injured by a dog, the first thing to do is get as good a description of the dog and owner, and, if it happens on their property, the address of the property. Then, make sure you can get medical treatment immediately, and photograph visible injuries. Contact a lawyer and proceed from there.

For More Information

Blog

You see the intersection ahead is clear of traffic and you have the green light. You scan for cars that might try to beat the light, make sure there are no pedestrians or cyclists in the intersection. And just as you enter the intersection, a car facing you decides to turn left right in front of…
Read More

If you are a bike rider, you recognize how dangerous this activity can be. Some have noted the increased distraction of drivers lately, but there are many causes for the increasingly risky enterprise of operating a bike.
Bike hit by car
Bike hit by dog
Bike hit by person or pedestrian
Bike hit by b…
Read More